Bell Says He Feels 100 Percent, Ready To Carry Load If Needed
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK (CBS DETROIT) - Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell said he feels 100 percent healthy after missing last week's game with a concussion. Bell's presence will be especially important considering that fellow running back Reggie Bush may miss Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings because of an ankle injury that knocked him out of last week's game.
Theo Riddick, another Lions running back, also had to sit out last week with injury. Whether Bush or Riddick will play this weekend is uncertain, so the majority of the carries may fall to Bell. Bell says he is prepared to handle whatever role the team hands him.
"Whatever they need me to do, I'm ready to do it," Bell said. "They need me to carry the load, I'll carry it. They need me to go out there, catch a couple passes, I'll do that. Whatever they need me to do.
"I feel 100 percent," Bell added. "My legs feel really fresh, and as far as the concussion, I cleared all my tests, and I feel 100 percent all around."
The running back said he had never had a concussion before the one he suffered in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets, but he said he knew as soon as it happened that something was wrong. Bell said he played the rest of the drive, and then he came to the sideline, talked with doctors and mentioned he took a pretty hard blow to the head. At that time, medical personnel did some verbal tests and then evaluated him further in the locker room.
"Once I got to the locker room, I kind of remember some stuff," Bell said. "[On the sideline] I didn't remember everything, though. I can't remember what I couldn't remember, but by the time I got in I remembered just about everything."
Bell said he felt a tingling sensation throughout his body on the hit that caused the concussion but said he did not experience any nausea. He characterized his symptoms as relatively minor.
"I wouldn't say mine was severe," Bell said. "Any concussion needs to be taken seriously, but as far as side effects, my side effects weren't too huge ... Luckily I was able to bounce back after a week."
Bush and Bell formed a potent one-two punch in the run game for Detroit last season. Over their first five games this year, however, the Lions have struggled to run the ball. They rank 28th in the NFL with 83.6 rushing yards per game.
